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Brief Summary of Revelation 1–9
Revelation 1 The Introduction: Scene:
Earth. Time: Past (ca. 95 AD).
John introduces the book of prophecy with
an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the Revelation. John was exiled
on the island of Patmos when Jesus sent and communicated the vision of things
which must soon take place. John is commanded to write and send the book to the
seven churches in Asia.
Revelation 2-3 Messages to the Angels of the Seven Churches
in Asia:
Scene: Earth. Time: Present (to original
readers in Asia).
Jesus sends a unique message to each of
the seven churches in the western part of the Roman province of Asia: Ephesus,
Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. The cities are listed in the order of the geographical circuit that the
messenger of the book would naturally travel as he delivered the letters.
Revelation 4–5 Prelude of Praise:
Scene: Heaven. Time: Future (Onset of the Great
Seven-Year Tribulation which will complete the present age, conclude with
Jesus’ return, and usher in the Millennium).
Revelation 4-22 records events that will
take place in the future. Three consecutive periods of judgment lead to the
second return of Jesus Christ: 7 Seals; 7 Trumpets; and, 7 Bowls. A prelude of
praise in heaven precedes the onset of each three sets of 7 consecutive
judgments. Revelation 4-5 records the initial heavenly prelude of praise that
will precede the opening of the 7 Seals of judgment in Revelation 6, ushering
in “a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the
world until now, nor ever will” (Matt 24:21).
Revelation 6 Seven Seal Judgments
Scene: Earth. Time: Future (Chronology moves
forward.)
The seven seals contain the
judgments of the Great Tribulation, concluding with the return of Jesus. The
seventh Seal contains the seven Trumpet judgments, and the seventh Trumpet
judgment contains the final seven Bowl judgments. The Trumpet and Bowl
judgments are all contained within the seventh Seal, unfolding consecutively
through the seven-year Tribulation Period. Through judgment, Jesus becomes King
of all the nations.
Revelation 6 records John’s
vision of the Lamb breaking the first 6 of 7 Seals:
§
Seal #1: First
Apocalyptic Horseman (White Horse): Conqueror
§
Seal #2: Second
Apocalyptic Horseman (Red Horse): Removes Peace
§
Seal #3: Third
Apocalyptic Horseman (Black Horse): Famine
§
Seal #4: Fourth
Apocalyptic Horseman (Ashen Horse): Death and Hades (over ¼ killed)
·
Seal #5: Cries
of the Martyrs for Judgment and Vengeance
·
Seal #6: Earthquake,
Blackened Sun, Blood-like Moon, Falling Stars, Split Sky, Moving Mountains and
Islands, Hiding Men, Great Day of Wrath
The seventh seal remains
unbroken at the end of Revelation 6. Before the Lamb breaks the seventh seal
(Rev 8), the foreheads of 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel are sealed.
Rev 7:1-8
Sealing of 144,000 from 12 Tribes of Israel: Scene: Earth.
Time: Future.
The
angels are commanded to refrain from harming the earth, sea, or trees until the
bond-servants of God are sealed on their foreheads with the seal of the Living
God. The 144,000 include 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Rev
7:9-17 Prelude of Praise by Multitude in Heaven: Scene: Heaven. Time: Future.
Before the Lamb breaks the
7th Seal, containing the 7 Trumpets and 7 Bowls, there is a prelude of praise
in heaven by a great, countless multitude from every nation, tribes, peoples,
and tongues. The multitude, clothed in white robes with palm branches in their
hands, stands before the throne and before the Lamb as they cry, “Salvation to
our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (7:10). The heavenly court
responds in worship. One of the elders explains to John that the multitude
came out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes, made white in the
blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 8–9 Trumpet Judgments
Scene: Earth. Time: Future (Chronology moves
forward, Second Half of Tribulation)
After the sealing of 144,000 from the twelve tribes of
Israel and a prelude of praise by a great multitude in heaven, the Lamb breaks
the seventh seal. In response, heaven is silenced for half an hour. The seventh
seal contains the seven trumpets, the second of three 7-judgment series that
are consecutively released during the Great Tribulation. The seven bowls are contained
in the seventh trumpet. The seven trumpets are contained in the seventh seal. When
the Lamb breaks the seventh seal, He is actually initiating the seven trumpets.
Once the seventh seal is broken, the seven trumpet judgments occur
consecutively. Revelation 8–9 records the consecutive release of six of the
seven trumpet judgments.
o
Trumpet
#1: Hail, Fire (upon earth)
o
Trumpet
#2: Burning Mountain (upon sea)
o
Trumpet
#3: Wormwood (upon waters)
o
Trumpet
#4: Sun, Moon, Stars (upon heavens)
o
Trumpet
#5: Demonic Locusts (upon people)
o
Trumpet
#6: Horsemen (upon people)
o
Trumpet
#7: Announces 7 Bowls
Introduction to Revelation 10–15:
Transition from Trumpets (8–9) to Seals
(16)
Scenes: Earth (10-14) and Heaven (15) Time: Future
Just as chapter 7, which deals with the
144,000 sealed Israelites and great multitude from all nations, serves as a
transition between the Seal and Trumpet judgments, Chapters 10–15 serve as a
transition between the Trumpet and Bowl judgments. The interlude provides
background information pertaining to significant people, places, and events
during the Great Tribulation without advancing chronologically through the
judgment series.
Chapter 10 introduces an angel, perhaps Michael the archangel,
who announces the 7th trumpet, which contains the seven final Bowl judgments
leading to the return of Christ.
Chapter 11 records John’s measurement of the temple of
God and the altar, then it introduces the two witnesses who prophesy for 1,260
days (42 months) of the Great Tribulation. At the end of 3 ½ years, the two
witnesses die and their bodies are displayed for 3 ½ days before they are
brought back to life and ascend into heaven.
Chapter 12 is often considered the most symbolic chapter
in the Bible. Five of seven major tribulation personages are identified: (1)
the woman clothed with the sun=Mary/Judah (2) the red dragon (7 heads, 10
horns, 7 diadems)=Satan; (3) a male child=Christ; (4) Michael/angels; and (5)
offspring of woman persecuted by the dragon=Israel.
Chapter 13 introduces the final two of seven major
tribulation personages: (6) beast out of the sea=Antichrist; and, (7) beast out
of the earth=false prophet.
Chapter 14 reveals the Lamb standing on Mount Zion and
the worship of the 144,000 who have the name of the Lamb and the name of His
Father written on their foreheads. After a prelude of praise, angels announce
fallen Babylon and the reaping of the earth.
Chapter 15 records a heavenly prelude of praise in
preparation for the final series of judgment. Those who had been victorious
over the beast and his image sing the Song of Moses and Song of the Lamb. One
of the four living creatures gives to the seven angels seven golden bowls full
of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever, and the temple is filled with
smoke from the glory of God and from His power.
STUDY QUESTIONS:
Rev. 14:1 Then I looked, and
behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred
and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on
their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the
sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I
heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. 3 And
they sang a new song before the throne
and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the
song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from
the earth. 4 These are the ones who have not been defiled
with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who
follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as
first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And no lie was found in their mouth; they are
blameless.
1.
Where is the Lamb standing? Who is with
Him? What is written on their foreheads? (14:1)
2.
Describe the voice that John hears from heaven. (14:2)
3.
What do they sing? Where do they sing? Who could learn the song? (14:3)
4. Who are the 144,000? (14:4) Are these the
same 144,000 mentioned in 7:4?
5. What is not found in the mouths of the
144,000? How are they described? (14:5)
6. What do you learn about God from Rev. 14:1-5?
How could this transform your life?
Rev. 14:6 And I saw another
angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live
on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; 7 and he
said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His
judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and
springs of waters.”
Rev. 14:8 And another angel, a
second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has
made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.”
Rev. 14:9 Then another angel, a
third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the
beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he
also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full
strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and
brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the
Lamb. 11 “And the smoke of their torment goes up
forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast
and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” 12 Here
is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their
faith in Jesus.
1.
What does John see in midheaven? What
does the angel have? To whom is the eternal gospel to be preached? (14:6)
2.
What does the angel say with a loud voice? Why does the angel tell them
to fear God and to give Him glory? Who are they to worship? (14:7)
3.
What does the following second angel say? Who does the second angel say
has fallen? What had she done? (14:8) (O) Who do you think Babylon is?
4. What does the following third angel say? What will happen to those who worship the
beast and his image and receive his mark or name on their forehead? In whose
presence will they be tormented? How long will the smoke of their torment go
up? How much rest will they receive? (14:9-11)
5. What is
the perseverance of the saints? (14:12)
6. What
do you learn about God from Rev. 14:6-12 How could this transform your life?
Rev. 14:13 And I heard a voice
from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now
on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for
their deeds follow with them.” 14 Then I looked, and behold,
a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man,
having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. 15 And
another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who
sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come,
because the harvest of the earth is ripe.”
16 Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle
over the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17 And another
angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp
sickle. 18 Then another angel, the one who has power over
fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had
the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters
from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.” 19 So
the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from
the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of
God. 20 And the wine press was trodden outside the
city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a
distance of two hundred miles.
1.
What does the voice from heaven tell John
to write? How does the Spirit respond? (14:13)
2.
Describe the one that John sees sitting on a white cloud. (14:14)
3.
What does another angel come out of the temple and cry out with a loud
voice to Him who sat on the cloud? What
has come? Why has it come? How does he who sat on the cloud respond? (14:15-16)
4. What does another angel who came out of the
temple also have? (14:17)
5. From where does another angel, who has power
over fire, come? What does he call out to him who has the sharp sickle? What is to be
gathered and why? What happens? (14:18-19)
6. What is trodden outside the city? What comes
out from the wine press? How much? (14:20)
7. What
do you learn about God from Rev. 14:13-20? How could this transform your life?
Write a prayer in response to Rev. 14.
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